Thesis Outline

Thesis Outline


Chapter 1: Literature Review

1. Fetal Programming/Fetal Origins of Adult Disease
   
2. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
   
3. Growth Retardation
   
   1. Symmetrical vs. Asymmetrical
      
   2. Causes (Ethanol, Malnutrition, Genetic Disorders, other teratogens (smoking, caffeine??)) - compare & contrast
   
   
4. Fetal Bone Development
   
   1. Endochondral vs. Intramembranous
      
   2. Stages of Endochondral Bone Development
      
   3. Factors Regulating Endochondral Bone Development
   
   
5. Calcium Regulation
   
   1. normal
      
   2. during pregnancy
      
   3. fetal
   
   
6. Animal Models
   
   1. Animal Models of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
      
      1. pros & cons of different methods of E administration
         
      2. comparing animal models to humans (BAC issue; trimester issue?)
      
      
   2. Animal Models of Fetal Bone Development
   
   
   1. pros & cons of different species
   
   
7. Thesis Objectives

Chapter 2: Dose Response Paper


Chapter 3: Histology Paper


Chapter 4: Discussion

1. Discussion and conclusions relating manuscript chapters to each other and to the discipline or field of study
   
2. Strengths/limitations
   
3. Future Directions
   
   1. Elucidating Mechanisms (immunohistochemistry; DNA microarry, intramembranous ossification, calcium supplementation/deficiency)
      
   2. Biomarker for alcohol exposure for diagnosis of ARND (how specific is the bone effect? how sensitive?)
      
   3. Fetal programming (potential for long term effects)
      
   4. Bone fracture repair?
      
   5. Calcification of the artery during atherosclerosis recapitulates endochondral ossification – would ethanol affect it?

Appendices

1. figures not included in Dose Response Paper
   
2. figures not included in Histology Paper (if any)
   
3. Animal Care certificates